From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 26, 2024
UNIFIL calls for timely withdrawal of IDF troops from south Lebanon
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The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) calls for a timely Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon.
On November 27, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a US-brokered 60-day ceasefire that calls for a phased Israeli military pullout after more than a year of war sparked by the Iran-backed terror group’s attacks, in keeping with a 2006 UN Security Council resolution that ended their last major conflict.
Under the agreement, Hezbollah fighters must leave positions in south Lebanon and move north of the Litani River, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) north of the border with Israel, along with a full Israeli withdrawal from the south.
In a statement, UNIFIL voices concern over what it said was continued destruction by Israeli forces of residential areas, farmland and infrastructure in south Lebanon, deeming this a violation of UN Resolution 1701.
“UNIFIL continues to urge the timely withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (in place of Hezbollah) in southern Lebanon, alongside the full implementation of Resolution 1701 as a comprehensive path toward peace,” the statement says.
The Israeli military says it is looking into UNIFIL’s criticism and declines further comment for the time being.
The Times of Israel Community.